Elder abuse a nasty outcome

Sadly for a lot of senior folk that is not the case with Victoria's Royal Commission into Family Violence hearing this week about the phenomenon of elder abuse.

It involves those in their later years being treated shabbily by those they should trust and those who should respect them – their children.

Often it is financial-based with offspring taking advantage of their parents’ generosity with money to an unfair extent.

Mothers and fathers are then unwilling to take formal action, such as instituting theft charges, against their children because of the alienation, hurt and embarrassment it would cause.

This behaviour is not limited to particular areas with Age Concern Albury Wodonga manager Jodie Hayes having come across examples on the Border.

Hopefully the exposure of such acts will encourage older people to feel more confident about talking to friends about it and engaging services which can help them find a solution to their difficulties.

The testimony to the Royal Commission also indicates family violence need not be physical or between partners.

Each section of the community in its own way is affected by abuse.

Much of it has been hidden over years and at the very least the Royal Commission has a key role to play in publicising it.

Though more important is the way the community addresses these blights.